Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Endemic to Australia.
Size: 2 inches (5 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits caves and holes in rocky and coral reefs and usually found between depths of 10 to 30 feet (3 – 10 m) where it feeds on small worms and crustaceans/zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade and an attractive species with the male usually having the aft two-thirds of the body a dark grey or black, with the head area and tail a bright orange, and a red eye. Females are grey/black overall with a white eye.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having some rocky hiding places/crevices to take shelter, as this species is secretive, especially upon first entering the aquarium. However, it will become bolder and develop into a good tankmate, for a dottyback, with other tankmates, as it is too small to be a threat to any larger species. Yet may annoy smaller fishes.
As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should make up the majority of their diet. Therefore a meaty diet such as enriched chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed once daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pseudochromidae
Subfamily: Pseudochrominae
Genus: Pseudochromis
FYI: Since they are extremely fast moving and secretive, if having to remove it from a reef aquarium with many hiding areas, it would be a major task!
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 20+ gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 81°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
